General Awareness Test (Jan -15) - Set 3

1)   Who has been appointed as Twitter’s Head of Sales for its operation in India on 19th Jan’15?

a. Amar Pratap Singh
b. S P Khanna
c. Karanjeet kaur
d. Taranjeet Singh
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Taranjeet Singh

Explanation:
He served as the Sales Director (South Asia) for BBC Advertising and was responsible for revenue and business strategy of BBC World News.


2)   The number of tigers in the country has increased to 2,226 this year. What was the number of tigers when estimates were last made in 2010?

a. 1,706
b. 1,605
c. 2103
d. 2098
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1,706

Explanation:
While tiger population is falling the world over, their numbers are increasing in India. Mr Javadekar said, the latest figure is 30 per cent higher than the previous estimate. India has 70 per cent of world’s tigers today and government is also ready to give them to other countries to raise their numbers around the globe.


3)   India is expected to grow at 6.3 % this year, by when it is likely to cross China's projected growth rate of 6.5%?

a. 2016
b. 2017
c. 2018
d. 2019
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 2016

Explanation:
In 2014, India's growth rate was 5.8 per cent against China's 7.4 per cent, said the World Economic Report update released by the International Monetary Fund. India's growth rate in 2013 was five per cent as against China's 7.8 per cent.


4)   The International Monetary Fund has lowered its forecast for global economic growth for the next___ year(s)

a. 1 year
b. 2 year
c. 4 year
d. 5 year
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 2 year

Explanation:
For this year and the next year, the IMF has predicted growth of 3.5 per cent and 3.7 per cent, a reduction of 0.3 percentage points, compared with the earlier forecast published in October last year.


5)   As per the Country Wide Tiger Assessment Report (CWTAR) for 2014, which state has the largest number of tigers?

a. Rajasthan
b. Madhya Pradesh
c. Uttar Pradesh
d. Karnataka
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Karnataka

Explanation:
Karnataka having 406 tigers followed by Uttarakhand (340), Tamil Nadu (229), Madhya Pradesh (208), Maharashtra (190) and West Bengal (76).


6)   Central government wants to construct Ram Janki Marg at a cost of Rs. 2000 Crore. Ram Janki Marg connects which two cities?

a. Rampur-Jankinagar
b. Ayodhya-Janakpur
c. Ayodhya-Haridwar
d. Rampur- Janaknagar
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Ayodhya-Janakpur

Explanation:
The road will connect Ayodhya with Janakpur in Nepal, to which Sita, the wife of Lord Rama in the epic 'Ramayana', belonged.


7)   Which scheme of Indian Government was conferred with the Guinness World Record on 20th January 2015?

a. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
b. Swachh Bharat Mission
c. Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana
d. Nirmal Gram Yojana
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana

Explanation:
Total 11.5 crore accounts have been opened under the scheme in less than five months. The scheme was launched on 28 August 2014 with a target of 7.5 crore till 26 January 2015.


8)   The European Union (EU) on 20 January 2015 decided to lift a ban on the import of which fruits from India after India made improvements in plant health controls and certification systems?

a. Mango
b. Apple
c. Sugar Cane
d. Banana
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Mango

Explanation:
The EU had imposed a temporary ban on Indian mangoes that came into effect from 1 May 2014. The EU accounts for more than 50% of total exports of fruits and vegetables from India. The UK is the main destination, followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.


9)   As per the statement by, HS Brahma Chief Election Commissioner how many people in India were registered as Voters as on 5th Jan’2015?

a. 70 Crore
b. 105 Crore
c. 110 Crore
d. 83 Crore
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 83 Crore

Explanation:
India is having nearly 83 crore voters as on 5th January 2015.


10)   Statehood of Manipur was celebrated on ______.

a. 21st January
b. 12th February
c. 21st February
d. 21st March
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 21st January

Explanation:
Manipur was made a Union Territory in 1956 and a full-fledged State in 1972.


11)   Statehood of Tripura was celebrated on ______.

a. 11th January
b. 13th February
c. 21st January
d. 20th January
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 21st January

Explanation:
The Governor inaugurated an exhibition which displayed the development of Tripura since 1972, the year the state attained the status of a full-fledged state.


12)   Statehood of Meghalaya was celebrated on ______.

a. 21st January
b. 12th December
c. 21st March
d. 22nd January
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 21st January

Explanation:
Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: the United Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, and the Garo Hills on 21st January 1972. Before attaining full statehood, Meghalaya was given semi-autonomous status in 1970.


13)   The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval on 21st Jan’15 for development of the four laning of the Ramban-Banihal section of National Highway – 1A. In which state is the Ramban-Banihal section of National Highway – 1A located?

a. Jammu & Kashmir
b. Punjab
c. Meghalaya
d. Uttarakhand
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Jammu & Kashmir

Explanation:
The main objective of the project is to expedite the implementation of six sub-projects in the State of Jammu & Kashmir under NHDP Phase-II.


14)   Which edition of the Status paper on Government Debt has been released by the Central Government on 21st Jan’15?

a. First
b. Second
c. Third
d. Fourth
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Fourth

Explanation:
Since 2010-11, the Central Government has been bringing out an annual Status Paper on Government Debt giving detailed analysis of the government’s debt position.


15)   Name the economist and author of several books, papers and articles on Economic issues who took over as Member of NITI Aayog on 21st January’15?

a. Arvind Panagariya
b. Bibek Debroy
c. Suresh Prabhu
d. None of these
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Bibek Debroy

Explanation:
Earlier he was a professor at Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. He has also worked as Director of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, Consultant to the Union Finance Ministry in various capacities and Chairman of the High Powered Committee on Railways restructuring.


16)   From which state, did PM Narendra Modi launch “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” campaign on 22nd Jan’15 to save and empower girl child?

a. Punjab
b. Rajasthan
c. Haryana
d. Uttar Pradesh
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Haryana

Explanation:
The campaign will be implemented in 100 districts of the country, including 12 of Haryana where the number of girl child is dismally low.


17)   Name the special deposit scheme especially for girl children that provide 9.1% interest rate launched by the Prime Minister on 22nd Nov’15?

a. Samruddhi Kanya Account
b. Sukanya Samriddhi Account
c. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Account
d. Beti Vishesh Account
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Sukanya Samriddhi Account

Explanation:
Sukanya Samriddhi Account will attract interest rate of 9.1% per annum for the current fiscal year (2014-15). This scheme prescribes opening of a deposit account with post offices in the name of a girl child by her biological parents or legal guardian.


18)   Name the scheme launched on 21st Jan’2015 by Union Government to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country?

a. Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation
b. Heritage City Development and Rejuvenation
c. Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Heritage City Development
d. Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana

Explanation:
In the initial phase, 12 heritage cities have been identified which will be rejuvenated and developed under Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY). The 12 cities are: Amritsar, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Ajmer, Mathura, Dwarka, Badami, Velankanni, Kanchipuram, Warangal and Amaravati.


19)   Name the 13-year old Indian-American student who recently became the youngest entrepreneur in Silicon Valley (US) as he launched a company to develop low-cost machines to print Braille?

a. Pawan Mistry
b. Shubham Banerjee
c. Shivam Sharma
d. Shankar Nalluri
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Shubham Banerjee

Explanation:
He founded his own start-up company called Braigo Labs to develop low-cost machines to print Braille.


20)   Who has been conferred with the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) National Special Category Award for the Best Electoral Practices- 2014?

a. Mr. Umesh Sinha
b. C V Anand
c. Kundan Kumar
d. None of these
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: C V Anand

Explanation:
He was conferred with this award for the commendable election related measures taken by him in the area of ‘Expenditure Monitoring and Tackling Money Power’ during the General Elections of 2014.


21)   As per the survey conducted by PwC, which country’s CEO are the second most optimistic in the world in terms of their companies growth prospects and hiring plans in next 12 months?

a. China
b. India
c. Germany
d. Britain
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: India

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!


22)   The World Economic Forum's five-day Summit started from 20th Jan’15 in which country?

a. Switzerland
b. Brazil
c. Geneva
d. South Africa
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Switzerland

Explanation:
Davos is host to the World Economic Forum (WEF), an annual meeting of global political and business elites (often referred to simply as Davos) and the home of one of Switzerland's biggest ski resorts


23)   The 119th birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was observed on _____.

a. 22nd Jan’15
b. 23rd Jan’15
c. 24th Jan’16
d. 23rd Jan’16
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 23rd Jan’15

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!


24)   Which country has set Guinness World Record for the world’s largest vertical maze of 55 stories?

a. United States
b. France
c. Dubai
d. India
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Dubai

Explanation:
The design on the façade of the building is actually a puzzle made from intricate lines of balconies on the front and rear, and there is another garden maze on the roof top.


25)   Name the Saudi Arabia’s king who passed away on 23rd Jan’15?

a. Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
b. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
c. Abdullah Abdullah
d. Salman Abdullah
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

Explanation:
Late King Abdullah ruled Saudi Arabia as the King since 2006, but ran the affairs of the country for a decade before when his predecessor King Fahd suffered a debilitating stroke.


26)   Which state in India will get first International Institute of Music?

a. Maharashtra
b. Gujarat
c. Bihar
d. Kerala
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Kerala

Explanation:
A Trust headed by Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and family has been entrusted with setting up the Institute.


27)   In which state, Syed Modi International Badminton Championships was played from 21st Jan’15?

a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Karnataka
c. Andhra Pradesh
d. Gujarat
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Uttar Pradesh

Explanation:
Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Srikanth K. and P. Kashyap were among the 14 Indian shuttlers who have advanced to the Singles pre-quarterfinals of the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.


28)   Which airline was allowed by Director General of Civil Aviation, DGCA, in Jan- 15 to accept advance bookings beyond the 31st of March?

a. Kingfisher
b. Jet Airways
c. Indigo
d. Spice Jet Airlines
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Spice Jet Airlines

Explanation:
Earlier, DGCA had restricted the airline to take advance bookings only up to the 31st of March following financial crisis which had led to cancellation of flights in large number and had curtailed operations in a significant manner.


29)   Which Ministry issued the Information Memorandum for e-auction of 135 channels of Private FM Radio in 69 existing cities of Phase II in the first batch?

a. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances
b. Ministry of Consumer Affairs
c. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
d. Ministry of Culture
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!


30)   Name the Yemen President who resigned on 22nd Jan’15 amid rebel stand-off?

a. Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi
b. Khaled Bahah
c. Sultan al-Atwani
d. Yahia al-Rai
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi

Explanation:
In Yemen, President Mansour Hadi, Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and his cabinet have resigned.


31)   When did the BSE Sensex cross 29000 points milestone level for the first time?

a. 20th January 2015
b. 22nd January 2015
c. 23rd January 2015
d. 21st January 2015
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 22nd January 2015

Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!


32)   Name the mobile messaging application that launched a new service for sending messages from a Web browser on 21st January 2015?

a. Telegram
b. Viber
c. Hike
d. WhatsApp
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: WhatsApp

Explanation:
The new messaging service works with Google's Chrome browser and is not available to iPhone users due to Apple platform limitations.


33)   Who is the author of the book ‘Neither a Hawk nor a Dove’?

a. Salman Roushdie
b. Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri
c. Hamid Ansari
d. Vikram Chandra
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri

Explanation:
He is a Ex-Foreign Minister of Pakistan. The book is based upon the relations between India and Pakistan and was published by Penguin Publishers in India at the end of Jan’15.


34)   Name the novel that was in news in the fourth week of January 2015 after its author Kapil Isapuri accused the makers of film PK of plagiarism?

a. Madhorubhagan
b. Hindu Heaven
c. Dhundi
d. Farishta
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Farishta

Explanation:
The novelist Isapuri approached the Delhi High Court and claimed that certain portions of the film like characters, expression of ideas and sequences were stolen from his novel Farishta and used in the film.


35)   Name the committee that on 21st Jan’15 submitted its report on restructuring of Food Corporation of India (FCI) to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

a. Shanta Kumar Committee
b. Naresh Chandra Committee
c. Srikrishna Committee
d. ShahNawaz Committee
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Shanta Kumar Committee

Explanation:
The eight-member High Level Committee on FCI restructuring chaired by Shanta Kumar was set up in August 2014.


36)   The 5th National Voters Day was celebrated in India on _____.

a. 24th January’15
b. 25th January’15
c. 26th January’15
d. 27th January’15
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 25th January’15

Explanation:
The Election Commission of India is celebrating 5th National Voters’ Day (NVD) across the country and the theme for the 5th NVD is ‘Easy Registration, Easy Correction’.


37)   Foundation Day of the Election Commission was observed on _____.

a. 28th January’15
b. 27th January’15
c. 26th January’15
d. 25th January’15
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 25th January’15

Explanation:
Commission came into being on this day in 1950.


38)   With which country India signed a Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in the Field of Information & Communications Technology and Electronics (ICTE) on 23rd Jan’15?

a. United Kingdom
b. United States
c. Myanmar
d. Japan
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: United States

Explanation:
This Joint Declaration of intent made for a period of next five years would help in strengthening industrial, technological, research & innovation and economic cooperation between India and U.S. in the ICTE sector.


39)   On which day, did India observe one day national mourning on death of Saudi King?

a. 23rd Jan’15
b. 24th Jan’15
c. 25th Jan’15
d. 26th Jan’15
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 24th Jan’15

Explanation:
The national flag will be flown at half mast on 24.01.2015 throughout India and there will be no official entertainment on the day.


40)    In which year were the National Bravery Awards instituted in India?

a. 1950
b. 1957
c. 1965
d. 1975
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1957

Explanation:
This Award is given annually by the Government of India and Indian Council of Child Welfare. This year, 24 children selected for the awards include 4 awardees who have been rewarded posthumously for their acts of bravery.